Everything You Want: Everything For You Trilogy 2 (32 page)

“You’re special to me, kitten.”

I don’t think I’ve ever loved him more than in that moment. I straddle his thighs, lock my arms around his neck and glue my lips to his. He gathers me against him rising up off the bed while I hang on like a monkey.

“Boxers,” he gasps against my busy mouth, trying to lower his underwear as I cling on tight.

He sits back down and I adjust position on my knees until I can lower myself over him. He holds me immobile for a moment before letting me take control.

“God, baby, you’re so real, so incredible; it always feels like the first time.” He caresses me as I undulate over him, rhythmically.

“I don’t want to be anywhere else, Jack.”

“Then don’t be, kitten. Kiss me.”

I suckle his top lip between mine and then his lower. He groans inside my mouth and I swear, it’s the sexiest sound alive. I breathe against his throat, liking the quick pulse of life that tics against my lips.

His hand splayed at my lower back, drives me to arch and ease off. I sense the kick of him within me reacting to each changing stimulation of my teasing, sheathing heat. He wedges his hand between our bellies so I can work myself even harder against the heel of his hand and faint with the pleasure of his fingers.

“I’m close, kitten.” There’s a sand-paper quality to his voice. Rough grade. “Together?”

I nod, incapable of speech; anchoring myself to Jack’s solid strength; my entire body is under such an immense build-up of pressure I reach blindly, seeking, begging to flip that final switch of release. He falls backwards onto the bed, rolling me beneath him and takes me hard until I scream. He throws his head back on his spine, tenses and lets go. This powerful moment of transformation renders us completely spent. Exhausted. Happy.

I fall asleep with Jack inside me and rouse sometime later when he adjusts our position in bed wrapping me up in his arms and legs.

In the early hours he takes me again with sleepy tenderness before we rise and shower. Although I enjoy the closeness, I do wonder if all this exciting sex may be getting in the way of resolving the real issues between us. But Jack appears more content than I have ever known him and I can’t be the one to spoil things. Perhaps I’m loosening Amanda’s hold on him, orgasm by orgasm.

Or perhaps I’m fooling myself.

* *

Lenuta arrives and makes us breakfast. Every time she glances in my direction she makes me blush shyly. Jack notices the silent exchange which he can’t work out. Only she and I know we’re both thinking of the
good man for the sex
.

“I think my staff are becoming more loyal to you than they are to me,” Jack whispers out of her earshot. Luckily he seems more bemused by the fact, than annoyed.

“I can’t help it if people respond to my inner goodness,” I joke, trying and failing to appear like a saint due to the well-bedded look on my face and my languid air of sexual satisfaction.

“Well they’d better not respond to your inner minx. She’s all mine.” I get a warning glare.

He drives me to work before heading to Zee-Com and makes me promise to be waiting when he picks me up on his way home. Today, I wear his ring without reluctance and am content to agree to every wish. Our domestic scene of harmony and bliss may be complete fantasy but I’m becoming attached to it.

Before he departs we sit in the car and he stares at me. “Is there something you want to tell me, Tabitha?”

He knows me too well. Perhaps my new found enthusiasm for work shines through because I feel I’m finally taking charge for the first time in my life. Or perhaps I feel like a complete woman at last.

“I’m just happy.” It’s as close an explanation as I’m truly able to give.

Jack smiles softly. “I’m happy too.” He kisses me goodbye. “Six thirty. Be here. If I have to come find you again your backside might be sorry.”

I laugh and duck out of his reach. “Always with the promises.” I notice Blackstock studiously ignoring our antics out of the corner of my eye. “Thank you, Mr Blackstock.” I wave and go inside. I don’t dread this place any longer. Even Brent Tapper’s Range Rover, still parked insolently in my space, I see as a last desperate attempt to hold onto his waning power. One way or another, being with Jack has changed me for the better.

“Good morning, Libby.”

“Morning.” She looks up from her computer screen and waits apprehensively. I breeze past so she follows me into my office and shuts the door behind her.

“Sorry I abandoned you last night,” she says.

“Don’t be. He didn’t exactly give you much choice.”

“Are things alright?” She looks a little puzzled.

“Were you expecting me to come to work in tears or something?” I smile at her.

“Well, frankly, yes. He was pretty pissed with you when I saw him.”

“We ironed things out.” I chew on my cheek.

“That easy, huh?”

“One spanking and he forgave me.”

She stares at me stunned. “You’re joking, right?”

I laugh and she laughs back at me. “Right.” No point in giving Jack a more notorious reputation than he already has. Though I’m not sure if Libby believes me or not.

“The caterers have been. Everything’s laid out for the lunch meeting in the boardroom.”

“Great. Can you send Brent an official memo? Tell him to remove his car from the CEO’s parking space by 9am tomorrow morning or it will be towed.”

“You wouldn’t?” Libby’s eyes widen in mischievous delight.

“I would now. He hasn’t acted on any friendlier request to shift it so it’s time to bring out the big guns.” I look at her, pondering a few moves ahead. “Though I might just go ask him nicely one more time, to delay any bad feeling until after our meeting. I’m still willing to give him a fair chance. He’s been here a lot longer than I have. It can’t be easy.” Change never is and I should know.

“Can’t be easy for you either,” she sniffs emphatically. “I’ll draft the letter ready, in the meantime.” She clearly has little faith he’ll comply.

“Thanks, Libby.”

I head straight for Brent’s office. His door is slightly ajar and I can’t help hearing him on the phone referring to “that little bitch” in a vengeful tone of voice. I know immediately who he’s talking about. “I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

As he slams down the phone I withdraw discretely. I couldn’t have picked a worse time to try to be nice, it would seem. I watch as he storms from the building, crosses the car park, heaves himself into his Range Rover and drives off.

I wonder who it was he was discussing me with in such derogatory terms. The person he’s going to meet in twenty minutes, it would seem. I decide if this has anything to do with me or CaidCo, which clearly it does, then I’m quite within my rights to find out any way I can.

I enter his office and press last number redial.

“What is it, Brent, darling?”

I slam the phone down. My heart pounds in my chest, my breath instantly shallows. I’d know that schemer’s voice anywhere. What the hell is Brent Tapper doing talking to Amanda Devereaux? Why is he discussing me or arranging to meet her? And since when was she on first name terms with any CaidCo employee and has their direct line logged into her phone?

I stagger back to my office and sink into my chair, mind in turmoil. I can’t make sense of it. Whatever explanation I come up with worries me greatly. After yesterday’s showdown, Brent’s smart enough to realise his current position here is untenable so it appears he’s already gone straight to our biggest rival to seek new opportunities. Or revenge.

Which still doesn’t explain the cosy familiarity I heard in Amanda’s voice and if Brent isn’t being viciously vocal about resigning, that can only mean one thing. Business espionage. He said he would take my clients with him. Has he hatched a plan with Amanda, to boost Advance’s market share and stuff it to CaidCo and me at the same time? Probably.

The only thing I’m sure of is I don’t trust Brent and I don’t trust Amanda. Together, they’re trouble.

I can’t share my concerns with Jack because he has a close relationship with her and thinks my suspicions about her are irrational anyway. Besides, I don’t want to do anything to tip her off that I’m on to them. She’s an arch manipulator who loathes me. I’ll have to keep Brent on a very short rein from now on and that won’t be easy.

He still has friends here.

* * *

“That went well, I think.” I discuss the staff meeting with Libby later. “Perhaps a few uncooperative comments from some members of staff, which I expected.”

“Not having Brent there was a good thing. He did you a favour for once by staying away.”

“I guess someone will clue him up as to what he missed.”

“Although I can’t believe he didn’t grasp such a golden opportunity to make trouble for you, in front of everyone, Tabitha.”

“Ignoring my direct order to attend the meeting plays into my hands, actually. Either he gives me a very good explanation for why he wasn’t there or he has a second strike against him.”

“A formal, written warning?”

I nod. I’m still mulling over possibilities where Brent and Amanda are concerned but I guess I’ll find out in time what it means. I decide not to share my latest suspicions with Libby. She’s entirely loyal to me, but loathes Brent and might accidently reveal what I know. I decide I’ll learn more by pretending I have absolutely no idea what’s going on.

“There’ll be lots of whispering behind closed doors for the next few days,” Libby warns.

“Hopefully I’ve reassured those wishing to leave, they’ll be fully supported to find suitable employment elsewhere or move towards early retirement.”

“Some of those within a few years of retirement looked delighted about that, if you ask me.”

“Enhanced pension provision, paid for by CaidCo? Naturally.”

“How many extra years did you say you were offering?” Libby quipped.

I give her a mock glare. “Not enough for you, sunshine. Besides I’m not letting you go. Ever. I need you.”

“I know you do, honey.” She looks pleased at the prospect. “You have me.”

We smile at each other with the knowledge and commitment of old friends.

“I’ve outlined my ideas so it’s a start.”

“Asking staff to come up with suggestions of their own for re-structuring was smart thinking.”

“People are more likely to invest in something they’ve had a hand in creating,” I admit. “And I like the idea of a more democratic way of working. We’ll have another meeting soon to discuss anything that has mileage. I’m really up for this, Libby.”

“I’d say, quite a few of us are.”

“I’m hoping it’ll give us a shot in the arm. A real chance at recovering Zee-Com’s account too. I’ve decided to head up that presentation myself.” I’m no longer going to avoid Jack professionally. I need to give Advance a run for their money and show Jack I’m a quick study of what it takes to be an effective CEO.

My door bursts open and Brent strides in. One glance at the clock tells me he’s been gone well over three hours. Long enough to exchange plenty of information with Amanda Devereaux. Brent Tapper’s a fool. She’ll use him until he’s of no further use to her.

“Do you want me to leave?” Libby scowls in Brent’s direction.

“Please stay, Libby. Nothing to do with this business can’t be conducted openly in front of loyal staff.” It’s a clear shot across Brent’s treacherous bows.

“Did I miss anything?” he asks, too casually.

I’m not here to answer his questions. I have an important one of my own to ask. “Where have you been, Brent? All staff were instructed to attend this morning’s meeting. I trust you have a good reason for failing to comply?”

He looks taken aback for a moment. He’s not used to me being so assertive. I’ve generally avoided confrontation before now. I present him with my finest, Jack-irritating arched eyebrow and wait for his response, counting each breath in and out to stop myself spinning off into an anxiety attack. I haven’t had one in quite a while.

“Had to go out. The others can tell me if I missed anything.”

“Your colleagues aren’t employed to compensate for any dereliction of duty on your part. They have far more important work to do. Where did you go?”

“To see a man about a dog.” Brent’s facetious remark shows me he has no honest intentions, so it’s as underhand as I thought. “I don’t have to answer to you for my whereabouts.”

“If you expect to remain employed here, I’m afraid you do.”

His laughter is derogatory. It tells me he’s not overly concerned about remaining. Either he doesn’t think I have the nerve to fire him or he’s already thrown in his lot with Amanda and Advance and doesn’t care a toss.

“Is that a threat, you little bitch?” He plants his hands on my desk and grows angrier, more irrational, the calmer I remain in the face of his defiance. “It’ll be a cold day in hell when a little girl like you gets the better of me.”

His remarks and manner remind me too much of Amanda Devereaux to be co-incidental.

I maintain the appearance of being completely in control and he doesn’t know how to handle it. Only I know I’m a swan on the calm surface but paddling like a deranged duck underneath. My heart starts pounding fit to burst. Focusing a little of my attention on my still tender behind helps, funnily enough.